Smokin' John's Barbeque is back in Manayunk

The smoker is back on at Smokin’ John’s Barbeque (4258 Main St. in Manayunk) – the offshoot of Winnie’s Manayunk next door – after a brief hiatus after the departure of partner John O’Brien.

O’Brien, who opened Smokin’ John’s in late 2014 with Winnie Clowry, has bought Conshohocken Cafe (521 Fayette St.).

O’Brien said he had been eager to shift gears in the restaurant business and go out on his own. His departure had been planned and was amicable, both Clowry and O’Brien say.

Clowry appointed operations manager Michael Quisito to oversee Smokin’ John’s, where new pitmaster Sean Green has a new menu that maintains many staples, including the burnt-end cheese fries. There’s a full bar, too.

O’Brien, meanwhile, says he’s always wanted to operate a breakfast/lunch restaurant, and at Conshohocken Cafe is just that. O’Brien, who’s lived in the borough with his wife, Danielle, for 17 years, says he jumped at the opportunity to buy it.

For now, CC is remaining just as it was. But a menu change is coming soon (as he works with local farms), and in late September, the O’Briens plan to rename it Brunch, serving from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.